---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 4703"
description: "Penalty for unlawful abandonment of barge"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "47"
chapter_name: "ABANDONMENT OF VESSELS"
section: "4703"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 4703"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s4703"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "525744dd9ae5a25dad952e56ce862014e8f58799393ad7ebb6ffe156e04bdb25"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "adbd7d7084844f98a0e1ce923bb5d0c03c246916e4b7eed3c45f82d3a82c2d8c"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 4703 - Penalty for unlawful abandonment of barge

## Text

Thirty days after the notification procedures under section 4704(a)(1) are completed, the Secretary may assess a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each day of the violation against an owner or operator that violates section 4702. A vessel with respect to which a penalty is assessed under this subchapter is liable in rem for the penalty.

(Added Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5302, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5082; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7347(c)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1781.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2025—Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”.